This was a cigar that was in my top ten for 2009, I thought I would give it another chance to be on the list for 2010. I pawed around in my humidor before deciding on this one, I always hesitate when I am smoking a cigar for review that I know has been great in the past. My irrational fear is that once I subject it to the hairy eye of criticism that I will lose a memory of bygone excellence. This cigar presents well, with a medium brown wrapper that is applied without flaw. There are some minor veins, but the wrapper is beautiful and has an oily sheen that is appealing. An inspection reveals a couple of areas that are a bit tight, but I do not believe that they will be an issue once flame hits tobacco. The pre light aroma is heady, there are notes of leather and spice that carry hints of things to come. The pre light draw shows some pepper and nice spice at the back of the palate.
The cigar opens with an excellent profile of leather, tobacco and spice. At the back of the palate there are some nice earthy tones that have some sweetness in the mix. The draw is very smooth and produces excellent amounts of thick, savory smoke. The burn is a bit wonky at the start, but it evens out in the first half inch.
The first half of the cigar really opens up nicely. The core profile shows a very balanced and nuanced array of flavors including spice, tobacco and leather. At the back of the palate there are notes of cedar and earth that add depth and complexity to the smoke. The draw continues to be impressive and shows no signs of be flawed at any point. The burn is even and produces a nice heavy gray ash.
The final half of the smoke develops further, showing tobacco and heavy leather notes. At the back of the palate some notes of spice are showing through some earthy undertones that are very pleasing. In the final two inches there is an excellent blast of pepper that really leaves it's mark as the cigar closes. The burn and draw were excellent throughout.
The finish is smooth but powerful showing notes of pepper and leather.
Appearance- 93 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 92 a very nice profile that had depth and complexity
Construction- 90 some early burn issues lead to some deduction
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience
Overall- 91.75 an excellent smoking experience
Showing posts with label Havana VI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Havana VI. Show all posts
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tatuaje Havana VI Nobles
This is the Red label variety of the Tatuaje line in a robusto sized presentation. The cigar is visually appealing and has a medium brown wrapper that has some prominent veins. A physical inspection of the smoke reveals no discernible construction issues. The pre light aroma is floral and has tones of earth. The pre light draw is cedary with a floral essence.
The cigar begins with an identifiable sweetness and notes of cedar and light earth greet the palate. The burn develops well and the ash is sharp. In the first two inches the profile also picks up a nice light tobacco character this marries well with the sweet cedary notes already present. There is also a nice shoulder developing at the one third point.
At just before the half way point this cigar loses the sweet cedary notes and develops a more rich tobacco character. There is still a note of sweet spice on the palate and the smoke becomes rich and voluminous, coating the palate with a satiny tingle of nicotine. The burn has stayed consistant and the ash holds for nearly half the smoke.
Just beyond the halfway point the cigar gains more depth with the introduction of a nutty flavor, there is also the presence of some light pepper at the back of the palate. The core of rich tobacco flavor stays prominent, but mingles beautifully with the other notes that have developed. The burn and draw have stayed flawless to this point.
In the final third the cigar continues to perform well. The sweet notes have returned and there is a floral essence accompanied by notes of nuts and light tobacco. This is a complex smoke and I am still detecting light pepper at the back of the palate. The burn and construction continue to be superior.
The finish is long and sweet with a floral and light tobacco character. This is an excellent smoke.
Appearance- 89 a very attractive cigar, hurt by some prominent veining
Taste- 94 extremely complex and full of satisfying character
Construction- 97 extremely well done, burn and draw were superior
Strength- 92 a wonderful medium/full experience that offsets the flavor characteristics in a fulfilling way.
Overall- 93 a superior smoking experience
The cigar begins with an identifiable sweetness and notes of cedar and light earth greet the palate. The burn develops well and the ash is sharp. In the first two inches the profile also picks up a nice light tobacco character this marries well with the sweet cedary notes already present. There is also a nice shoulder developing at the one third point.
At just before the half way point this cigar loses the sweet cedary notes and develops a more rich tobacco character. There is still a note of sweet spice on the palate and the smoke becomes rich and voluminous, coating the palate with a satiny tingle of nicotine. The burn has stayed consistant and the ash holds for nearly half the smoke.
Just beyond the halfway point the cigar gains more depth with the introduction of a nutty flavor, there is also the presence of some light pepper at the back of the palate. The core of rich tobacco flavor stays prominent, but mingles beautifully with the other notes that have developed. The burn and draw have stayed flawless to this point.
In the final third the cigar continues to perform well. The sweet notes have returned and there is a floral essence accompanied by notes of nuts and light tobacco. This is a complex smoke and I am still detecting light pepper at the back of the palate. The burn and construction continue to be superior.
The finish is long and sweet with a floral and light tobacco character. This is an excellent smoke.
Appearance- 89 a very attractive cigar, hurt by some prominent veining
Taste- 94 extremely complex and full of satisfying character
Construction- 97 extremely well done, burn and draw were superior
Strength- 92 a wonderful medium/full experience that offsets the flavor characteristics in a fulfilling way.
Overall- 93 a superior smoking experience
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